Will Jean-Philippe Mateta (left), Ollie Watkins (centre) and Yoane Wissa stay at Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Brentford respectively? The battle for Liam Delap is over - after the 22-year-old striker moved to Chelsea from Ipswich for £30m. Conference League winners Chelsea beat the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle and Everton to Delap's signature to become the first Premier League club to sign a high-profile striker this summer. But with the clubs that missed out on Delap - plus Arsenal and Liverpool - among those keen for extra firepower, the race to add those all-important extra goals continues. The first part of the summer transfer window closes on 10 June and reopens on 16 June - with sides having until 1 September to bolster their squads. So which other strikers will the major sides be looking at? We have focused on 10 forwards who will be in demand over the next few months. Hugo Ekitike scored a fine long-range strike for Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Tottenham 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:48Goals:22Assists:12Minutes per goal:165.4 French striker Hugo Ekitike, 22, has enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career, registering 22 goals and 12 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt to help his side finish third in the Bundesliga and earn a Champions League place. He has represented his country at under-21 level and the 6ft 3in (1.91m) frontman has been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks. Frankfurt have already lost one forward to the Premier League this season, with Omar Marmoush joining Manchester City - will his former team-mate join him in England? Serhou Guirassy scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, but it was not enough as Borussia Dortmund lost 5-3 on aggregate 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:45Goals:34Assists:6Minutes per goal:111.9 Only England captain Harry Kane scored more Bundesliga goals in 2024-25 than Borussia Dortmund centre-forward Serhou Guirassy's total of 21. He also got 13 goals in the Champions League (joint top with Barcelona's Raphinha) and that form has put the 29-year-old Guinea international on the radar of the top Premier League clubs. Guirassy moved to Dortmund for only £15.4m last summer and has a reported release clause of 70m euros (£60.1m). As well as being in fine scoring form for Sporting, Viktor Gyokeres has been prolific for Sweden, scoring four times in a 6-0 win over Azerbaijan in November 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:52Goals:54Assists:12Minutes per goal:77.8 Former Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres has been in fine form for Portuguese side Sporting this season, scoring an incredible 54 goals in 52 matches. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United, which would see him reunited with former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, but his goalscoring record is attracting clubs from across Europe. His contract reportedly has a release clause of 100m euros (£83.1m). Jean-Philippe Mateta helped France win a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics, with the side managed by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:46Goals:17Assists:4Minutes per goal:194.1 Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta enjoyed a fine season and began 2025 with eight goals in his first nine games of the year. He ended the campaign on 14 Premier League goals, joint 10th in the charts, and started Palace's 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City at Wembley as the Eagles won their first major trophy. That victory took his side into next season's Europa League, but will that be enough to convince Mateta to stay at Selhurst Park? Bryan Mbeumo finished as the joint fourth highest Premier League scorer with 20 goals 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:42Goals:20Assists:9Minutes per goal:178 While not a recognised central striker, Brentford's Mbeumo has been no stranger to playing that role for the Bees. As equally adept on the right, or playing more centrally, Mbeumo would provide an option in two positions for any potential suitor. Manchester United are known to be interested in the 25-year-old Cameroon international, with the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle also linked. With just a year left on his contract, Brentford boss Thomas Frank has admitted the club are open to offers for their talisman, despite wanting to keep him at the club. Victor Osimhen scored 26 goals in 32 games to help Napoli win the Serie A title two seasons ago 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:41Goals:37Assists:7Minutes per goal:85.8 In 2022-23, Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win their first Italian title since 1990, but he missed their triumph this season as he had a prolific spell on loan at Turkish side Galatasaray. The 26-year-old has been in prolific form, and among his goals in 2024-25 was a double in his side's 3-2 Europa League win over Tottenham in November. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are among those that have been heavily linked with the player. Mateo Retegui scored four times for Atalanta in their 5-0 win at Verona in February 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:49Goals:28.Assists:9Minutes per goal:112.6 Italy international striker Mateo Retegui ended the campaign as the top scorer in Serie A with 25 goals for Atalanta in 2024-25, six more than any other player. The 26-year-old has played in the Champions League for his side this season, and his goals have helped them qualify for next season's competition. Will that be enough for him to stay with Atalanta? A host of Premier League clubs will be watching with interest, ready to pounce if he decides to leave Italy. Benjamin Sesko has been linked with a number of English clubs over the past two seasons 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:45Goals:21Assists:6Minutes per goal:155.2 Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko has long been linked with a move to the Premier League as he continues to rapidly build his reputation at RB Leipzig. The 22-year-old is 6ft 5in (1.96m) and will not come cheap because he signed a new "long-term deal" with the German side last summer. At the weekend, Sky in Germany were reporting that Arsenal had begun talks with RB Leipzig in an attempt to sign Sesko, who has a release clause worth more than 80m euros (£67.4m). Dusan Vlahovic joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2022 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:41Goals:15Assists:5Minutes per goal:171.1 Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, whose contract runs until June 2026, is another big target man who has been linked with a move to the Premier League for a long time. The 25-year-old is 6ft 3in (1.91m) and enjoyed another fine season in Italy with Juventus, who had signed him in January 2022 - when Arsenal missed out on the forward. Vlahovic also scored when Juventus beat Manchester City 2-0 in their Champions League tie in December. Ollie Watkins has played 18 times for England, scoring five goals, including the last-minute winner in the Three Lions' 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:54Goals:17Assists:14Minutes per goal:210.5 Arsenal made a late bid for England striker Ollie Watkins in the final few days of the winter transfer window, with Aston Villa refusing the reported £40m offer. However, Villa's 2-0 loss to Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season meant Unai Emery's side missed out on a lucrative Champions League place because their goal difference was worse than Newcastle's. That means Villa will be in the Europa League in 2025-26, so will the Gunners try again for Watkins and have more success with a summer bid? Yoane Wissa joined Brentford from French side Lorient in 2021 for about £7.2m 2024-25 stats (all competitions).Appearances:39Goals:20Assists:4Minutes per goal:153.9 Only five players in the Premier League scored more goals in 2024-25 than Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who hit the net 19 times. Nottingham Forest and Tottenham were interested in the DR Congo international striker in the January transfer window and Brentford, who missed out on European football for next season, will face a battle to keep Wissa and team-mate Mbeumo.
Delap done - which other strikers will be wanted this summer?
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Chelsea Signs Liam Delap as Premier League Clubs Eye Additional Strikers"
Bbc News
7.5
TruthLens AI Summary
The summer transfer window is heating up, particularly in the race for strikers following Chelsea's acquisition of Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30 million. This move marks Chelsea as the first Premier League club to secure a high-profile striker this summer, having outmaneuvered several competitors, including Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton. With the transfer window's first phase closing on June 10 and reopening on June 16, clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool are eager to strengthen their attacking options. A total of ten forwards are currently in the spotlight, with teams looking to enhance their goal-scoring capabilities ahead of the new season.
Among the strikers in demand is Hugo Ekitike, who has had a standout season with Eintracht Frankfurt, netting 22 goals and providing 12 assists. His performance has drawn interest from Chelsea and Liverpool. Another notable player is Serhou Guirassy, who scored 34 goals across competitions for Borussia Dortmund, making him a prime target for Premier League clubs. Similarly, Viktor Gyokeres has taken the spotlight with an impressive 54 goals for Sporting Lisbon, raising the interest of Manchester United. Other players like Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ollie Watkins, and Yoane Wissa are also generating buzz, with their respective clubs facing challenges in retaining their talents amid interest from top teams. The transfer market dynamics are expected to shift significantly as clubs make strategic moves to secure valuable forwards before the season begins.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article outlines the recent transfer of striker Liam Delap to Chelsea and highlights the ongoing demand for forwards in the Premier League. With several clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, eager to strengthen their attacking options, the piece sets the stage for the summer transfer market dynamics.
Intent Behind the Article
The primary aim seems to be to inform readers about the shifting landscape of striker transfers in the Premier League. By focusing on Delap's transfer and mentioning other players who might be targeted, the article creates anticipation for upcoming moves in the transfer window.
Public Perception Management
The article portrays a sense of urgency among top clubs to secure goal-scoring talent, suggesting that competition is fierce. This creates a narrative that enhances the excitement and drama around the transfer market, appealing to football fans' emotions.
Potential Information Gaps
While the article provides insights into player movements, it does not delve deeply into the financial implications or the strategic reasoning behind clubs' decisions. This omission may lead to a lack of understanding regarding how these transfers impact club finances or the overall market value of players.
Manipulative Nature Assessment
In terms of manipulation, the article has a moderate level of bias. It emphasizes the competitiveness of the transfer market but may oversimplify the complexities involved in player transfers. The use of specific statistics about players like Hugo Ekitike and Serhou Guirassy serves to bolster interest but might also present an idealized view of their potential contributions.
Credibility of the Information
The information presented is credible, primarily because it references actual transfers and player statistics. However, as with many sports articles, there is an inherent level of speculation involved when predicting future transfers.
Narrative Construction
The article crafts a narrative that suggests a heightened level of activity in the transfer market, appealing to fans' desires for their clubs to make significant signings. This narrative connects with the broader context of the football season, where clubs are gearing up to enhance their squads for upcoming competitions.
Community Engagement
Football fans, especially those of Premier League clubs, are the primary audience for this article. It resonates particularly well with those who are engaged in club loyalties and passionate about team performance.
Market Impact Insights
The transfer news could influence stock prices of involved clubs, especially if significant players are bought or sold. Clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool are closely monitored by investors, and any major transfer activity could lead to fluctuations in their stock values.
Geopolitical Relevance
While the article primarily focuses on sports, the dynamics of football transfers can reflect broader economic trends and the financial health of clubs, which can have indirect impacts on local economies and international market perceptions.
Potential Use of AI
It is possible that AI tools were used in drafting this article, particularly in generating player statistics or summarizing transfer news efficiently. The structured presentation of player data might indicate automated assistance in data collection and analysis.
Manipulative Language Use
The article does not overtly employ manipulative language but does frame the transfer market as highly competitive, which could evoke emotional responses from readers. The excitement built around potential transfers might lead to heightened expectations among fans.
Overall, the article presents a reliable overview of current happenings in the football transfer market, though it does have a tendency to emphasize narrative excitement over deeper analysis.